Thursday, October 25, 2007

The Big event

Well, now I know. There are no bowling alleys. No pool tables. If there was a cocktail bar, I was unable to find it. Just lots and lots of airplane enthusiasts packed into the freshly appointed cabin of an incredible aircraft. Four hundred seventy one of us, cheek by jowl with what seemed like half again as many media people. The area in front of my exit row seat served as a studio for news crews ranging from CNN to a Swiss air buff blog. The media frenzy was so intense that the overworked and ever-smiling service staff almost didn't make the second serving -- a delicious nasi goreng satay served over cold spicy buckwheat noodles. But it didn't matter, nobody was hungry by that time. For six brief hours, this planeload of people became a community talking about just one thing: this revolutionary aircraft and its impact on the future of travel.

We got to pose with celebrities too, including the chairman of SIA Chew Choon Seng (above).